Philanthropy in a Shifting African and Global Landscape

Dear Friends,

It’s an honor to be here at the University of the Witwatersrand, and to be joined by such an illustrious group of fellow speakers.

At the Open Society Foundations, the philanthropy I lead, we are contending with the growing challenges of our time—a moment that is defined by profound urgency, and yet full of possibilities.

These challenges—climate change, rising inequality, doubts about democracy, and the erosion of trust in institutions—are not isolated crises. They are interlocking systemic failures that demand a new way of thinking and acting.

They are critically related to the multiple failures of markets, of leadership, of institutions, and of theories about development—and, yes, of philanthropy.

Some argue that institutional philanthropy, born from the same systems that have perpetuated global inequality, cannot truly address societal issues while preserving the very structures that created them.

They question whether the benevolence of the wealthy can coexist with the extractive, neoliberal, and neocolonial system that continues to marginalize the global majority.

The world is seen as divided between narrow elites who profit from neoliberalism and those who are on the receiving end of its blunt impact—whether through technology, artificial intelligence, financial tools, natural resources extraction, and the control of land, water, and food ecosystems.

They ask: Can philanthropy truly be a force for justice when it is so often tied to the very elites who benefit from the status quo?

These are difficult questions, but necessary ones.

Does philanthropy’s future lie in continuing to operate within the confines of a broken system, or can it rise to the occasion and become a catalyst for transformative change?

If we look today at the scale of philanthropy’s interventions, they are indeed impressive, and suggest a global commitment to addressing some of the most pressing issues.

According to a recent Global Philanthropy report:

• 35 percent of nearly 30,000 foundations focused at least some of their resources on education
• 20 percent of these foundations prioritized health
• In Latin America, foundations stand out for aligning their priorities with the Sustainable Development Goals – especially on education, health and wellbeing, the eradication of poverty, and the provision of decent work and economic growth

Numbers, however, are not enough.

Despite these investments, institutional philanthropy has often fallen short. Too often, it has imposed top-down solutions, sidelining the lived experiences of those most affected by the crises of our time.

It has often placed an importance on the priorities of the powerful over grassroots insights and wisdom. It has funded projects, but not movements. It has addressed symptoms, but not root causes.

This approach is inadequate for the challenges we face today.

Our interlocking, systemic crises demand careful, nuanced, and collaborative responses that are grounded in true partnerships. These crises demand a fundamental shift in how we think about and practice philanthropy.

The spirit of philanthropy is alive across the world and offers lessons for us.

According to the 2024 World Giving Index:

• 4.3 billion people—nearly three-quarters of the world’s population—give their time, money, or help to someone not known to them
• For the seventh year in a row, Indonesians ranked as the most generous people
• The United Kingdom, by contrast, fell out of the top 20 givers for the second year in a row
• In the wake of the devastating 2023 earthquake in Morocco, there was an 800 percent increase in the number of people who donated money for charitable causes
• And there was a comparable trend in Kenya following the “gen-Z” protests last year

Across the Global South, in a trend that has emerged over recent years, we are seeing a rise in giving—a widespread expression of our shared humanity. A shift toward home-grown solutions and self-reliance through local giving.

A spirit of Ubuntu—the philosophy of this context that reminds us: “I am, because we are.”

But solidarity alone is not enough. We must confront the structural challenges that loom ahead of us.

The withdrawal of aid from the U.S. and multiple European governments threatens to push millions into absolute poverty.

It threatens to exacerbate the vulnerability of people already grappling with the consequences of climate change, food insecurity, and conflict.

These are people still suffering from the enduring after-effects of global financial and health crises.

Women, youth, and rural populations bear the brunt of these crises—and yet funding for their needs remains dismally inadequate.

The immediate consequences of Western aid cuts will be devastating. There are urgent, life-saving programs that depend on this aid.

The cuts have already caused immense harm to people in desperate situations; it has damaged the standing of donors globally; and it will only increase need.

The aid model was not perfect—it had flaws, and it created dependencies.

If we are moving into a new reality where international aid is not coming back, then we need to start thinking of new models—looking not just at what’s needed in this moment, but also what will be sustainable in the future.

There is a need for a new vision of Global South development financing generally, and philanthropy, in particular.

It means providing more than money. We need to offer resources that enable the infrastructure needed for lasting change to take hold. This includes facilitating spaces for reflection, strategizing, and network-building that can foster deep solidarity, sustained change, and long-term resilience.

We must seek to build the economic architecture that enables those most in need in the global majority world to access capital and blended financial resources required to engage as primary participants, owners, and beneficiaries of “green industrial growth.” De-risking social justice financing requires phenomenal innovation and foresighted actions.

A new vision for philanthropy in our fast-changing world must, out of necessity, starts with listening to the field so that we truly hear from movements, organizations, and individuals on the frontlines of the fight for rights, equity, and justice.

Philanthropy must move beyond throwing money at problems and instead invest in the infrastructure of lasting change.

This means listening to individuals, movements, and communities at the coal face. Amplifying marginalized voices and supporting innovative solutions that have been historically ignored.

It means shifting from funding individual “shining stars” to nurturing ecosystems of collaboration and mutual support.

And it means staying the course, enabling small wins to grow into lasting victories.

At Open Society, we are committed to this new way of working.

We are embracing the principles of Ubuntu—mutuality, self-reliance, collaboration, local knowledge, and intergenerational giving.

We are grounding our work in humility, recognizing that we do not have all the answers. We are descending into the arena, standing alongside our partners, and listening deeply—not just to what is said, but to the silences as well.

This is not easy work. It requires balancing old and new partnerships, navigating complexity, and resisting the temptation to default to familiar patterns. It requires us to be intentional in everything we do—to test hypotheses, to approach our work with humility, and to be willing to learn from our mistakes. It requires us to be present, not just as funders, but as partners in the work of justice.

And it requires us to confront some hard realities. That philanthropy, as it exists today, is often complicit in the very systems it seeks to change. That real transformation requires more than money; it requires a fundamental shift in power dynamics.

And that we, as funders, must be willing to cede control, to trust in the wisdom of those on the frontlines, and to recognize that our role is not as a top-down savior, but a humble partner—an ally in the work of justice.

But despite these challenges, we are committed to this path. Because we believe in the transformative power of collective action.

We believe in the possibility of a more just and equitable future—one where the voices of the marginalized are not just heard, but amplified.

One where the solutions to our most pressing challenges come not from the boardrooms of the powerful, but from the communities most affected by those challenges.

The challenges before us are immense, but so too is our capacity for innovation, resilience, and solidarity. Philanthropy must rise to this moment—not with grand gestures, but with intentionality, humility, and a commitment to listening more and imposing less. Together, we can build a future where rights, equity, and justice are not just ideals, but realities.

Thank you.